logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2024
48m 16s

International observers criticise Georgi...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Pro-Western opposition parties in Georgia have refused to accept results that hand victory to the increasingly authoritarian ruling party, after a pivotal election focused on the country's future path in Europe. We hear from an international observer who says the ballot was flawed and spoke of a string of violations across the country, from ballot stuffing inside polling stations to intimidation of voters outside.

Also on the programme: we hear from the MSF medical aid agency in Gaza after one of its doctors was detained by Israeli forces during a siege on Kamal Adwan hospital, and we consider undecided voters in the United States.

(Picture: Fireworks over the Georgian Dream party headquarters after the announcement of exit poll results in parliamentary elections, in Tbilisi, Georgia Credit: REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze)

Up next
Yesterday
Ukraine marks 34 years of independence with defiant message
Ceremonies have been taking place today in Ukraine to mark 34 years since the country gained its independence from the Soviet Union. President Zelensky said that, three-and-a-half years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Ukraine would not settle for anything less than ... Show More
46m 20s
Aug 23
Ghislaine Maxwell denies seeing 'inappropriate' conduct by Trump
The US justice department has released transcripts of its recent interviews with Ghislaine Maxwell, the jailed associate of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In them, Maxwell denied the existence of any "client list" kept by Epstein. She also said she'd never seen President ... Show More
47m 12s
Aug 23
UNICEF fears famine will spread in Gaza
A day after a famine is confirmed in Gaza City, a spokesperson for the UN children's agency UNICEF tells us she's afraid hunger will spread. We ask the Norwegian government what other countries can do to put pressure on Israel to let in aid.Also in the programme: Jeffrey Epstein' ... Show More
47m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
Israel Bombards Hezbollah in Lebanon
Tommy and Ben discuss the escalation of violence between Israel and Hezbollah into all-out war, the shuttering of Al Jazeera in the West Bank, the importance and futility of the United Nations General Assembly, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s trip to the US with a “v ... Show More
1h 24m
Oct 2024
Georgia’s disputed election
Iran has signalled that it will pursue a measured response to Israel’s latest strikes, and Georgia’s opposition has called for protests after the ruling Georgian Dream party claims victory. Plus, the possibility of Donald Trump’s trade war has hit the shares of export-sensitive E ... Show More
10m 42s
Aug 2024
Israel-Iran Tensions Escalate, Venezuela Election Questioned, Edinburgh Fringe Shines, and More
The Middle East braces for the possibility of a full-scale war between Israel and Iran-backed forces after the assassinations of Hamas senior leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr; Venezuelans protest the results of the presidential election that grant incumben ... Show More
30m 9s
Jun 2024
UK Election Preview with David Lammy
Ben is joined by guest host David Lammy, British MP and Shadow Foreign Secretary. They discuss the upcoming election in the UK on July 4th and how historic a Labour win by Keir Starmer would be, how to read into popular support for Nigel Farage and his far-right party, an electio ... Show More
1h 20m
Jul 2024
Venezuela: What's next after disputed election?
Protests have erupted across Venezuela, with thousands taking to the streets over the outcome of the country's presidential election on Sunday. President Nicolás Maduro, who electoral authorities say won a third term, blamed the "extreme right" for stirring unrest as security for ... Show More
27 m
Oct 2024
Brussels vs Moscow: The EU risks losing its eastern neighbors
A vote that was supposed to be a slam dunk in favor of the EU turned into a nail-biter: barely 50 percent of Moldovans backed the country’s accession ambitions in last week’s referendum. Does a massive Russian interference campaign of vote-buying and lies explain the result — or ... Show More
39m 25s
Dec 2024
South Korean President Declares Martial Law
Tommy and Ben discuss President Yoon Suk Yeol’s sudden declaration of martial law in South Korea, how Trump and his team will approach the Syrian civil war, and why Kash Patel, Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, is so dangerous. They also talk about Trump’s nepotism hires, more troubl ... Show More
1h 22m
Nov 2024
Russia’s playbook in Georgia and Moldova
The recent elections in Georgia and Moldova were marred by significant Russian interference, including disinformation campaigns and vote-buying. As the Kremlin seeks to undermine the candidate countries’ EU futures, Brussels needs to take action. This week, Mark Leonard welcomes ... Show More
40m 40s